THE ROLE OF HEALTH LITERACY IN HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION AMONG TAIWANESE OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Health literacy is one of important capabilities links to health-related behaviours. The extant study provides limited information about the healthcare access of older adults. This study investigated factors determining the healthcare utilisation of 2423 community-dwelling older adults from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Ageing between 2011 and 2015. We used linear mixed-effects regression models and cumulative logit models to examine whether personal characteristics are associated with healthcare utilisation. A significant association was found between the level of difficulties in health literacy and healthcare utilisation after controlling for age, comorbidity, depression, mobility and accessibilities. The higher the older adults scored in the difficulty of health literacy, the lower frequencies of clinics (p = .03), inpatient (p = .02) and dentist visits (p = .02). Individuals who access health-related information more easily have a better chance to receive inpatient services when they feel unwell (p = .0004). Better perceived health is less likely to use clinics (p < .0001), emergency (p < .0001) and inpatient services (p = .0007) but not include visits to pharmacy and traditional medicine. People engaging in workouts are less likely to purchase in a pharmacy (p = .02) but visit traditional medicine (p = .02) more often. It echoes that health literacy is an intermediate attribute to self-efficacy in managing personal health matters and suggests a perspective that older adults consider taking traditional medicine as a self-care instead of healthcare treatment. Future intervention programmes can address health literacy promotion as an initiating step to facilitate participants’ engagement.


THE IMPACT OF GROUP-LED YOGA AND MINDFULNESS ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IN SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN
Rozmin Jiwani 1 , Mishel Malik 1 , Sara Mithani 1 , Sara Espinoza 2 , and Monica Serra 1 , 1. UT Health San Antonio,San Antonio,Texas,United States,Los Angeles,California,United States One in five South Asians (people from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) living in the U.S. report experiencing a mental illness, with women reporting a three-fold greater risk of distress than men.South Asian women commonly interpret mental health symptoms as physical illnesses and resist seeking medical help.Yoga is a multifaceted, effective practice promoting well-being by integrating mind and body.This study aims to determine the feasibility and impact of a 12-week (Jan-April 2023) yoga and mindfulness intervention on mental and physical health outcomes in South Asian women.Thirty community-dwelling South Asian immigrant women, age ≥45 years were recruited to complete weekly 90-minute sessions of Ashtanga yoga including meditation and mindfulness practice.We are currently reporting baseline and 6-week data of mindfulness and physical activity self-reported questionnaires as the intervention is ongoing, but 12-week data will be available for the final presentation.At baseline, participants were 53±6 years old and a majority (80%) were overweight/obese with BMI ≥25kg/ m2.At 6 weeks, twenty-eight (93%) participants continued with the study and twenty-five (83%) attended ≥4 of the 6 sessions.By 6 weeks, participants' scores improved on Five Facet Mindfulness by 17% (p< 0.001) and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise by 15% (p>0.05) from baseline.These results suggest the preliminary feasibility, retention, and potential impact of the intervention on mental health outcomes in this population.Future directions include developing a large-scale, randomized lifestyle intervention trial to delay/ manage mental health outcomes in South Asian women of all ages.

THE ROLE OF HEALTH LITERACY IN HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION AMONG TAIWANESE OLDER ADULTS
Zih-Yong Liao, Pei-Chun Liao, and Fang-Lin Kuo, National Health Research Institutes, Yunlin, Yunlin, Taiwan (Republic of China) Health literacy is one of important capabilities links to health-related behaviours.The extant study provides limited information about the healthcare access of older adults.This study investigated factors determining the healthcare utilisation of 2423 community-dwelling older adults from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Ageing between 2011 and 2015.We used linear mixed-effects regression models and cumulative logit models to examine whether personal characteristics are associated with healthcare utilisation.A significant association was found between the level of difficulties in health literacy and healthcare utilisation after controlling for age, comorbidity, depression, mobility and accessibilities.The higher the older adults scored in the difficulty of health literacy, the lower frequencies of clinics (p = .03),inpatient (p = .02)and dentist visits (p = .02).Individuals who access health-related information more easily have a better chance to receive inpatient services when they feel unwell (p = .0004).Better perceived health is less likely to use clinics (p < .0001),emergency (p < .0001)and inpatient services (p = .0007)but not include visits to pharmacy and traditional medicine.People engaging in workouts are less likely to purchase in a pharmacy (p = .02)but visit traditional medicine (p = .02)more often.It echoes that health literacy is an intermediate attribute to self-efficacy in managing personal health matters and suggests a perspective that older adults consider taking traditional medicine as a self-care instead of healthcare treatment.Future intervention programmes can address health literacy promotion as an initiating step to facilitate participants' engagement.

University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, Austin, Texas, United States, 2. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States, 3. University of Washington School Nursing, Seattle, Washington, United States
Engaging with Aging is an emerging framework proposed by Carnevali which provides a new lens to understand an active, conscious daily living process of coping with age-related changes (ARCs) taken on by older adults.The study aims were to 1) describe the challenges related to hearing loss experienced by community-dwelling older adults, especially during COVID-19; 2) identify the strategies and resources used by older adults to accommodate the daily living challenges caused by hearing loss.We conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 participants aged 64 to 98 online due to COVID-19 restrictions.We used a virtual card sort to assist with data gathering.Hearing loss was mentioned by 18 participants (62%) and their corresponding adaptations were discussed.We found that older adults linked their adaptations to hearing loss based on their changing hearing capacities and needs.Commonly used adaptations included lip reading, volume adjustment, and wearing hearing aids.The challenges caused by COVID-19 in implementing the adaptations were also discussed (e.g., increased difficulty in understanding others due to mask-wearing).While most participants reported making adaptations to hearing loss, some mentioned that hearing loss was "no biggie" to them so no adaptations were needed.This study substantiates the EWA framework by showing the commonality among older adults in linking hearing loss, as one of the common ARCs, with corresponding adaptations.Implications for clinicians and researchers include using EWA to help older adults identify personalized solutions that fit their hearing capacity.

URBAN OLDER ADULTS PERSPECTIVES ON NATURE:
A DIRECTED CONTENT ANALYSIS Jessica Cassidy, and Kathy Lee, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States Biophilia is a theory which hypothesizes humans have an instinctual desire to interact with nature that in turn, supports health and well-being outcomes through gains in physical and mental functioning.This study aimed to explore how concepts outlined in the theory of Biophilia related to urban older adults' experiences and perceptions of nature.This secondary data analysis examined five focus groups with community-dwelling, urban older adults.All participants were female, and majority were African Americans (83.3%).Using directed content analysis, we developed a codebook from concepts and mechanisms outlined in the theory of Biophilia.Our analysis resulted in six themes, 1) Infinite wonder of nature; 2) Nature activating long-term memories; 3) Nature influencing feelings of well-being; 4) Connecting with nature; 5) Conservation ethic; and 6) Nature across the lifespan.Overall, the data fit the theory well.Through the lens of Biophilia we understood why the sample of participants valued their interactions with nature, as well as how experiences in nature promoted their feelings of well-being.We observed appreciation for nature interactions can deepen in later life suggesting nature-based interventions may be especially well-suited for older adult populations.We suggest the theory of Biophilia can lend well to public health approaches towards addressing the social and economic implications presented by growing numbers of urban dwelling older adults.Moreover, Biophilia can provide a theoretical basis for tailoring nature-based interventions delivered across a variety of settings to match diverse study goals and overall, to promote the health and well-being of older adults.

MENTAL HEALTH/SERVICE USE
Abstract citation ID: igad104.3031